Chapter 11: lost 2
Naya was frightened now. The last time Kyle had called her by her childhood nickname was when he told her about her parents' horrible death. Naya let him inside her apartment and offered him a chair.
"My great-Aunt Rachael doesn't want to see me" Naya arrived at her own conclusion without waiting to hear from Kyle.
"You couldn't be further away from the truth Cee-Cee. Your Great Aunt was thrilled to see you the last time I spoke to her" Kyle cleared him throat like he was having difficulty in speaking.
"What is going on Uncle Kyle? Just say it. I am sure it is not going to be as bad as you telling me that my parents are never coming home"
"Your great aunt died early this morning. I am so sorry Cee-Cee"
Naya didn't bother to look at Kyle. What was the point? Her eyes welled up in tears as she stared down at her feet. Her lower lip trembled as she struggled to blink back the tears before they dripped down her cheeks but they did anyway.
"Well…Thanks for telling me Mr. Roger" Naya said a little to fast as she wiped her eyes.
"Are you going to be alright, Cee-Cee?"
"Why wouldn't I be Mr. Rogers? I never met the woman" Naya wanted to sound strong and unaffected but it was a little bit too late to pull it off.
"Your Great Aunt left you some money and after the funeral, I am going to make sure you get it" Kyle stood up and patted her on the shoulders "I am really sorry, Cee-Cee"
After Kyle left, Naya slumped into the couch and lowered her head into hands, shoulders shaking as she fought back the grief that threatened to overcome her.
There was a knock on the door and Naya thought Kyle came back to talk to her. She rushed to the door and opened it.
"Mr. Rogers, I am really okay….Kane, I thought you were my uncle Kyle" her voice broke over the last syllable.
"You are crying. What is going on?"
"I lost my Aunt Rachael" without giving it much thought, she flew into his arms.
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PRESENT DAY
Naya exhaled loudly. It felt like she had been holding her breath for a very long time. She stared at the man sitting beside him and he watched her too.
"After that evening, I went back to Kane. I don't know why I did but I did. Six months later, he proposed and since I had money from my great Aunt and he had a steady job, there was just no reason for us to live apart. Jason, things were good during those six months. I would never have married him if it wasn't" Naya spoke fast
"You don't have to explain it to me Naya. I understand perfectly" Jason was kind.
"The next time Kane hit me again was eight months after we got married. He came back home drunk and when I confronted him, he pushed me and I fell through the glass figurine in our apartment. The doctor had to use tweezers to pull the shred out of my back and I spent two days in the hospital."
Jason felt his fist clench. He was angry but it wasn't about what he was feeling, it was about what she was feeling and that was the only feeling that mattered.
"You didn't leave then?" Jason asked His voice a little too harsh.
Maybe part of his anger was directed at Naya for not leaving earlier.
"I did. I packed my bags the day I got back from the hospital but I didn't get far. I was arrested by a patrol cop. Apparently, there was an eyewitness that placed me in a scene of an armed robbery"
"But you didn't rob anyone, did you?" Jason asked.
"Of course not, Jason I was with my uncle Kyle when the robbery took place. Kane was a cop and it was his way of telling me that if I ever left him, I will end up in jail for a crime I didn't commit. He told me that the next time I leave him, he was going to kill me and I believed him, Jason. After Uncle Kyle confirmed my alibi, the eyewitness miraculously recanted and Kane took me home"
"Why didn't you go to the cops, Naya?" Jason asked
"Which time? The boys in blue look out for one another and Kane made it look like I was losing my mind. He almost had me committed to an asylum. I woke up one morning and the money, my Great aunt left me was gone from the joint account I had placed it and so there I was penniless. And I had no one to turn to. Kane would come home and he would do with me as he pleased. He would kick me, beat me or verbally abuse me"
"Naya, I am really sorry. I can't imagine the pain you went through" Jason squeezed her hand.
"Thanks Jason"
"So, how did you get away?"
"With nowhere else to turn to, I opened up to my Uncle Kyle and asked for his help. The man agreed to get me away from my husband. He filed for legal separation and he took me to a hotel for the night"
"What happened next, Naya?"
Naya's eye welled up with tears again and she turned away from Jason.
"Apart from the cops fishing his body out of the river the next day, nothing much happened. Kane found me and gave me an ultimatum. Either I go home with him or be implicated in my Father's friend murder. He had him killed Jason"
Jason instinctively wrapped his hands around her and pulled her to himself. Her body shook as the tears flowed freely down her cheek. Naya sniffed back and left Jason's embrace.
"I went home like the good wife I was and I stayed with him one more year. I was almost twenty-one and soon be able to access the money my parents left me. Kane knew that also and so, he became sweet and nice to me again. I made an arrangement with him, I would give him my father's wealth and in exchange, he would give me a divorce and he agreed"
"Finally, he was going to leave you alone" Jason had a rush of relief sweep through him.